Patent GB-374037-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for controlling the supply of cotton or like fibrous material during preparation for spinning
IPC: D01G23/08
Filed: 1931-02-28
Abstract: 374,037. Supplying cotton &c. to hopper feeders, openers, &c. RUSHTON, J. L., Kay Street Works, and WHITTLE, W., 23, Egerton Street, both in Bolton. Feb. 28, 1931, No. 6339. [Class 120 (i).] In apparatus for controlling the supply of cotton or other fibrous material during preparation for spinning, of the type comprising a main conduit 12, Figs. 1 and 1a, supplying one or more branch conduits 13 each leading to a separate receiving station, e.g. an opener, a feed regulator in each branch conduit responsive to the quantity of material therein and means actuated by each feed regulator for controlling the supply of material to the main conduit, feeding means, e.g. pneumatic and an automatic timing motion are provided whereby the cotton is fed intermittently along the main conduit 12, the timing motion being operatively connected to the supply-controlling means for the conduit 12 so that the supply will be discontinued when the feed along that conduit is stopped. A hopper feeder 10 delivers fibrous material to the conduit 12 while each branch conduit 13 leads to the feed lattice 14, Fig. 3, of a hopper feeder 15 and also communicates with a common air pipe 16 parallel to the main conduit 12 and provided with an exhaust fan 17, Fig. 1a. The automatic timing motion 18, of known construction, is arranged on the air pipe 16 and comprises a valve 19, Fig. 5, driven from a two-speed pulley 20 by gearing including a wheel 21 carrying tappets which operate in turn on a cam secured to the valve spindle 25, the valve being thereby caused to open and close once every revolution of the wheel 21, thus producing an intermittent air current in the pipe 16. The tappet 22 is adjustable. A gauze partition 26, which prevents the passage of cotton but allows dust to be extracted, is provided between each branch 13 and the air pipe 16 while a canvas or like valve 27 in each branch 13 closes the conduit due to air suction, or hangs vertically when the air current is shut off. A feed regulator 28 is also fitted at the lower end of each branch 13 and comprises a hinged plate counterbalanced at 29 normally to close the conduit. Each regulator 28 is responsive to the quantity of material in the branch 13 and an arm 30, Fig. 4, is arranged to support a spring-controlled rod 31 forming part of an electric switch 32. When a predetermined quantity of material has accumulated in the conduit 13 the regulator 28 opens and the arm 30 is turned sufficiently to cause the plate 33 to bridge two studs 34 and close the circuit. The hopper feeder 10 is belt driven, the belt 37, Figs. 1 and 9, being controlled by a belt-shifter 38 operated by a cable 39 connected to a link 40 adjustably connected to an arm 41 carried by the valve spindle 25, passing over guide-pulleys 42 and attached at 43 on an arm 44 of the belt-shifter 38. When the valve 19 is open the belt 37 is held on the fast pulley 35 by a counterweight 45 on the lever 44 and the feeder 10 delivers cotton to the main conduit 12. When the valve 19 is closed the belt 37 is shifted on to the loose pulley 36 by the cable 39 and the feeder 10 ceases delivery. A stopping device controlled by the feed regulators 28 is provided to stop movement of the lever 44. The switches 32 are arranged in series in a circuit containing a solenoid 46 mounted adjacent to the lever 44 and adapted when energized by closing of all the switches 32 to actuate a spring-controlled finger 47. If the belt 37 is on the loose pulley 36 the finger 47 will be projected beneath the arm 44 and the belt held on the loose pulley. The flexible cable 39 however still permits the continuous operation of the automatic timing motion. If the belt 37 is on the fast pulley 35 the finger 47 is projected against the side face of part 48 of the arm 44 and the belt can be shifted on to the loose pulley on next closure of the valve 19, the finger 47. then moving beneath the arm 44. When any one of the switches 32 opens the circuit is broken the solenoid 46 de-energized and the finger 47 retracted by its spring ; the belt-shifter 38 then resuming normal operation. The whole plant operates as follows. Assuming the fan 17, timing motion 18, and hopper feeder 10 to be running, when the valve 19 is opened the hopper feeder supplies cotton to the main conduit 12 and cotton is drawn therealong over the branches 13 by air in the pipe 16. The valves 27 are closed and cotton accumulates thereabove. When the timing motion closes the valve 19 the hopper feeder stops the supply to conduit 12, the valves 27 open and the accumulated cotton falls down on to and past the feed regulators 28 to the feed lattices 14 of the hopper feeders 15. If the accumulation in any branch 13 exceeds a predetermined quantity the regulator 28 is forced open and the switch 32 closed. If all the branches 13 contain a predetermined quantity of cotton, e.g. are full, all the switches 32 are closed and the hopper feeder 10 stopped until the quantity of cotton in any branch falls thereby opening the switch 32 and restarting the supply. In a modification, the cotton &c. may be supplied from mixing stacks the control devices being suitably modified.